Established 1961 27 Sports Sunday, September 15, 2019 Real Madrid hang on for win after Benzema brilliance Sergio Ramos unable to play because of a European ban MADRID: Karim Benzema scored twice yesterday in Porto defender could start in Paris. Real would have an outstanding performance for Real Madrid against won by a greater margin here had it not been for some Levante, although his side were left hanging on for a 3- inspired goalkeeping from Aitor Fernandez, who pro- 2 win on the day Eden Hazard made his La Liga debut. duced a stunning one-handed stop to keep out a Benzema’s goals came just six minutes apart in the Benzema shot midway through the first half. first half at a wet Santiago Bernabeu, before Casemiro However, the hosts went ahead shortly after that put Real 3-0 up. However Levante, who had won their when Dani Carvajal crossed from the right for Benzema previous two outings, made a fight of it in the second to bullet home a header. The Frenchman struck again in half as they pulled goals back through Borja Mayoral the 31st minute, with James Rodriguez pouncing when and Gonzalo Melero. Sergio Postigo headed the ball down into his path, and “The second half was more difficult for us, but the teeing up Benzema to score his fourth of the campaign. overall feeling was positive,” said coach Zinedine “I have been hearing for ages after matches that Zidane, whose team had drawn their previous two Karim put in his best performance,” said Zidane. “That’s games. “We have got the three points and we were enough of that! It means that he has been playing well incredible in the first half, the way we played, the goals, for a while.” Benzema was also involved in the build-up the commitment. We just need to stay focused for the to the third goal five minutes before the interval, which full 90 minutes.” concluded with Vinicius Junior squaring for Casemiro Hazard also came off the bench for the final half- to finish. hour to make his first La Liga appearance after a thigh Levante pulled one back in the 49th minute as injury had interrupted the start of his Real career fol- Carlos Clerc crossed from the left to the near post lowing his 100 million-euro ($110 million) move from where Mayoral — on loan from Real — converted. Chelsea. The Belgian could now start when Real go to Benzema then curled a shot against the post, while Paris Saint-Germain for their opening Champions Vinicius had a goal disallowed and Hazard tested League game on Wednesday. “I am happy for him,” said Fernandez, but it was Levante who scored again. Zidane. “He will do us good. He is not ready yet though Substitute Melero proved too strong for Carvajal at — he has only trained four times with the team. But the far post as he headed in a marvellous cross by Jose when everyone is fit, when we have our rhythm, we will Campana, yet Madrid held out. Leaders Atletico hurt teams.” Madrid will seek their fourth win in as many La Liga Gareth Bale will also be available to face PSG after games when they play later at Real Sociedad in the first suspension kept him out here, but Sergio Ramos will be game at the Basque club’s newly refurbished stadium. unable to play because of a European ban. Zidane was Barcelona are also in action at home to Valencia, also without the injured Luka Modric here. However, as who this week sacked coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, MADRID: Real Madrid’s French forward Karim Benzema (L) kicks the ball during the Spanish league football match well as Hazard, fellow summer signing Eder Militao replacing him with the former Real Madrid assistant Real Madrid CF against Levante UD at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. — AFP came off the bench in the second half and the former coach Albert Celades. — AFP to be a footballer.’ Michael Owen “I did feel special, definitely. He was planting the seed constantly.” Owen says Terry, who was also a professional foot- says father was baller with lower league clubs including Chester with whom he reached the Solskjaer keen driving force League Cup semi-finals — struggled to adjust to life after football so devoted as to resolve De Gea much of his time as possible to his son. and reveals “He got jobs that would be perfect so he could come and watch me, even in a contract delay PE session, a poxy cross-country train- son’s blindness ing run, or playing rugby,” said Owen. “My dad would be on the other side of MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains confident that LONDON: Former European player of the bush watching me. Unbelievable. “If he wasn’t there I’d still push goalkeeper David de Gea will commit his future the year Michael Owen says he owes his to the club despite entering the final year of his success to his father, who insisted he through the pain barrier, because of my inner will to win, but, Jeez, my dad being contract. was given steak for dinner as a child United hoped the Spanish international would while his four siblings made do with there, I can’t have him see me coming Michael Owen with his son, has revealed his son suffers from a rare degenerative eye sign a new deal before the season began, but are baked beans on toast. second. “I’d prefer to die than my dad to disease. still waiting for De Gea to put pen to paper. The 39-year-old former Liverpool think I’m second best.” Owen, who won the Ballon D’Or after As it stands, the 28-year-old would be free to and England striker told The Times he speak to any European clubs from January 1 and Liverpool won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup 2,000 people in Anglesey and 2,000 Owen, whose eldest daughter Gemma even climbed into the boxing ring leave next summer on a free transfer. United have and League Cup in the 2000/01 cam- people in Deeside. represents Britain at equestrianism. because his father Terry said he needed reportedly offered a deal worth around paign, admitted he hated boxing but he “It was the most scary thing in the “I’ve never said this. I don’t want a to “toughen up”. Despite this Owen, who £290,000-a-week ($363,000) to make De Gea did not want to deny his father. “When world, knowing I was going to fight. But big headline. “Clinically, he’s blind. He’s won both his bouts, tweeted on the joint highest earner still at the club, alongside my dad said, ‘You’re going boxing, I knew I was making dad proud.” Owen, got Stargardt disease, a degeneration of Wednesday on his father’s 70th birthday Paul Pogba, but still short of the £400,000-a- because you need to toughen up’ do you who burst onto the international scene his retina. “I used to go and watch him he was “the kindest man I ever met”. week Alexis Sanchez was earning at Old Trafford think I liked getting punched in the when he scored a solo goal in the 1998 and bollock him about his positioning. “I was the only one allowed a steak prior to his loan move to Inter Milan. face?,” said Owen, who is now a suc- World Cup finals against Argentina, said “He can’t see the ball until it’s five on a Tuesday,” said Owen. “My dad said, “I’ve obviously not been involved in all the cessful thoroughbred racehorse breeder. his son James will never grace a football yards away. “As much as every father ‘You’re all having beans on toast, discussions, but I’m pretty confident we’ll get “I went to boxing for three years. I pitch. wants their son to play, it is almost a Michael’s got to have steak because we this sorted,” said the Norwegian. “David has nev- bloody hated it. I fought in front of “My son’s got an eye condition,” says relief to me.” — AFP need to build him up for when he’s going er said anything else to me, other than that he loves this club, he wants to stay here and he’s had a fantastic time. “So let’s hope we just get it doubled the lead for last season’s runners-up, who held on over the line.” Lyon miss out on to take their third victory of the new campaign despite a Matches on TV Protracted negotiations over De Gea’s future late goal from Angers forward Stephane Bahoken. were offered as a reason for his poor form Osimhen, who scored doubles in previous home victo- (Local Timings) towards the end of last season. He was also at top spot after ries over Saint-Etienne and Nantes, took advantage of a fault for Patrick van Aanholt’s late winner as dreadful error by visiting goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle to Crystal Palace won 2-1 at Old Trafford last month. grab his goal. Lille next travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax in ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Amiens draw Bournemouth FC v Everton FC 16:00 But the man crowned United’s Player of the their Champions League opener on Tuesday. beIN SPORTS HD 2 Year on four occasions during his eight years in “If we play the same way at the end of the game when Watford v Arsenal FC 18:30 Manchester retains the backing of Solskjaer.